Zane Kilian Challenges Evidence Credibility in Charl Kinnear Murder Case

The ongoing saga of the high-profile murder case of Anti-Gang Unit Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear took a new turn as Zane Kilian, one of the main accused, challenged the credibility of key witness Bradley Goldblatt's evidence in the Western Cape High Court. While this dispute dominated proceedings, it simultaneously shed light on the sinister underbelly of Cape Town's criminal networks and the dangerous implications of the alleged use of advanced surveillance technology.

During his witness testimony, Kilian raised substantial doubts over the incriminating evidence presented by Goldblatt that implicated him in the assassination of Kinnear on 18 September 2020. Goldblatt's statement from October 2020, which was crucial during Kilian's failed bail application in March 2021, contained allegations of his provision of MarisIT Credit Services login details to Kilian for R5,000 allowing him 100 searches for personal information via the credit bureau. This service was part of a broader package, including cell phone tracking or "pings" sold to Kilian, sourced from US-based LAD, a division of the 3DT Group.

Kilian and the notably accused underworld figure Nafiz Modack are facing more than 3,100 charges, amongst which include the murder of Kinnear and the attempted murder of attorney William Booth. The case paints a picture of Modack as the head of a criminal enterprise adeptly referred to as the "Modack Enterprise."

In a dramatic twist, Kilian recounted being warned by a lawyer against implicating Modack in Kinnear's murder, hinting at threats against his and his family's safety. During the proceedings, Kilian also appealed for bail citing threats to his life within prison confines, pleading that his safety could only be assured outside the province.

The bond between Goldblatt and Kilian purportedly dates back to November 2018, originating from a vehicle repossession engagement. Goldblatt, who noticed irregularities in Kilian’s use of pinging services, was pressing in revealing damning instances, including a significant surge in pings on Kinnear's number shortly before his assassination. This prompted Goldblatt to alert the police, followed by his ghastly realization of the murder after his warnings seemed to have been overlooked.

The credibility of the evidence provided by Goldblatt remains in contention. Kilian fought back, claiming that the platform and user code received from Goldblatt could have been used by others as well, thereby diluting the sole responsibility for the pings to him.

Adding to his defensive posture, Kilian argued that "disappearing pings" from his account pointed to other individuals' activities. He postulated that it would be a stretch for the prosecution to definitively link the pings from the case docket directly to him without a solid determination of the location of the person who carried out the pinging.

Goldblatt's credibility surfaced as an issue during Kilian’s previous bail appeals. Notably, one of these appeals included his attempt before Judge Ashley Binns-Ward in May 2021, where Binns-Ward underlined the trustworthiness of Goldblatt's testimony based on his proactive approach with the police and his ability to retrieve the phone number used by Kilian to contact him.

In contrast, the latest proceedings in March 2023 witnessed the dismissal of bail appeals for Modack, co-accused Jacques Cronje, and alleged former Anti-Gang Sergeant Ashley Tabisher. Judge Sher highlighted Kilian’s alleged involvement in Kinnear’s targeting, reinforcing the seemingly solid connection to the premeditated murder.

Despite Kilian's attempt to cast doubt on the veracity of Goldblatt’s statement, prosecutor Greg Wolmarans emphasized Kilian’s admission of pinging multiple individuals, which arguably negated Kilian’s refutation of responsibilities. The case is set to continue with further arguments before Judge Sher in early 2024.